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Passaic County, New Jersey, Man Admits Robbing Bank

NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man today admitted robbing a TD Bank in Hawthorne, New Jersey, in February 2016, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.

Robert Somers, 45, of Little Falls, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of bank robbery.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Feb.17, 2016, Somers robbed the TD Bank in Hawthorne, New Jersey, by handing a teller a note that read: “this is a hold up,” and demanding cash. The teller handed Somers cash. Somers demanded more money, and a second teller handed him additional cash. Somers fled the bank in a car driven by another individual.

The bank robbery charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the gain to the defendant or loss to any victims. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 5, 2017.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark; the Hawthorne Police Department, under the direction of Chief Richard McAuliffe; the Pennsylvania State Police, under the direction of Col. Tyree C. Blocker; and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jihee G. Suh and Karen D. Stringer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.